Quinn Nolan passes the Tigers’ swimming baton to younger brother Declan

Sprint swimmer Quinn Nolan set two Dalhousie University swimming records this season, with his younger brother Declan now also looking to break records as a Tiger.  

Quinn and Declan are at opposite ends of their post-secondary careers. While Declan is finishing his first year of the bachelor of commerce program, Quinn is finishing his master’s in resource and environmental management, and his time racing at Dal.  

In the 2025–26 campaign, Quinn accomplished what he couldn’t in four years of swimming for the University of Guelph during his undergrad. Racing for Dal at the Kemp-Fry Invitational, he qualified for the U Sports national championship in not one, but three events by achieving U Sports standard times in the 50m butterfly, 50m breaststroke and 50m backstroke events. 

“I’m very happy,” Quinn said. “I’m content with how I’ve done in this sport now.”

Tigers swimming head coach Lance Cansdale said Quinn brings athletic talent and maturity to the team; he expects Quinn to set more Dal speed records at the U Sports meet.  

Looking at his brother’s Dal speed records, Declan, the Atlantic University Sport male Rookie of the Year, wants to break some records himself — specifically former Olympian David Sharpe’s 1:57.91 in the 200m backstroke, which Declan is around four seconds off from. 

Cansdale said he wouldn’t be surprised if Declan broke records in the future, but also said Declan is still growing as an athlete.  

The coach said Declan, as a member of the Canadian Forces Naval Reserve, “understands a chain of command” and listens to his coaches, but can sometimes let emotion impede his performance. Quinn agrees.

“He cares a lot about people,” Quinn said. “He wears his heart on his sleeve. He has his emotions, and it shows in his sport as well.”  

On Feb. 13 — the first day of the 2026 AUS championship swim meet — Declan finished first in the 400m individual medley and beat his own personal best time by two seconds. Immediately after the race, he was disqualified for incorrectly transitioning from backstroke to breaststroke.  

According to Cansdale, Declan was down on himself the next day and had difficulties focusing before his race.

“He was by far the Rookie of the Year, but he was going to swim himself right out of it,” said Cansdale.

After a disappointing 200m individual medley, the coach asked Declan if he wanted the harsh truth of what the swimmer was doing wrong — Declan asked for honesty. 

“I said, ‘You’re really going to screw yourself out of a lot of awards and opportunities with this attitude. You’ve got to turn it around. You’ve got to get out of your own head.’” 

Declan responded the next day by winning the 200m backstroke and achieving a qualifying time for the U Sports meet.  

While Cansdale said he’s going to miss the leadership qualities his senior swimmer brings, he also said Quinn’s brother Declan is “limitless.”

“Having five years with him really excites the heck out of me,” Cansdale said. “He’s improved so much this year.”  

Quinn and Declan are set to compete at the U Sports national swimming championship from March 12 to March 14. 

In previous summers, the brothers have taught swimming lessons together, but this year, Declan will take over the business. Next September, he takes over as the No. 1 Dalhousie swimmer with the last name Nolan.